Cotabato City’s five years of steady economic growth and improving reputation with both the national and international community are more than strong enough to withstand one day of election-related violence, and the city will recover quickly, Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao said Monday.
Matabalao made the statement in a live interview relayed through DZRH correspondent Jun Dimatulac on DZRH News program The Situation Report on September 14, offering a measured but confident assessment of his city’s resilience in the face of the incidents that marked BARMM election day.
He said the city’s long-term trajectory of growth and development is the more important story, and that the incidents on election day must be seen in the context of a city that is rising, not one that is in decline.
“Sa mga pangyayaring ito, ang pinaka-wish talaga natin dito, Manong Cesar, ay makakuha ng hustisya,” Matabalao said, adding that swift justice for those responsible is the key to moving forward without allowing the incidents to define the city.
He said Cotabato City has achieved significant academic and economic milestones over the last five years, and that its standing with the international community, which is watching the BARMM elections closely, has continued to improve alongside those achievements.
“We are very proud of our achievements in academic and economic development for the last five years. Ang nangyaring karahasan kanina na may kaugnayan sa eleksyon ay hindi po araw-araw na nangyayari sa Cotabato,” Matabalao said.
He said the city’s police and law enforcement are fully engaged and will work to contain the illegal activities and violence that occurred on election day, and that the incidents will serve as a lesson for how to conduct future elections in the city more peacefully.
“Umasa po kayo na paliligpitin natin ang mga ilegalidad at karahasan sa tulong ng ating kapulisan. At sana, kung ano man ang nangyari sa first parliamentary election ay maging aral sa mga susunod na panahon upang maging mas matiwasay ang mga susunod na eleksyon,” Matabalao said.
